No More Ventilator

This morning Merrie began breathing completely on her own again. The ventilator tube was removed, and so was the feeding tube. What a relief.

She’s been doing some breathing exercises and has been sitting up all day. All vital signs have been stable, and she has moved from ice chips to water to a liquid diet. This evening we are watching "Jurassic Park 3."

It has been mentioned that we may move out of ICU in the next couple of days, but that is unofficial (translation: from the nurses). The cardiologist said we likely will be traveling to Scripps Hospital next week for an angiogram, to check the condition of the blood vessels feeding the heart.

So today we are grateful for some new signs of hope.